“My Book of Memories Past”
by Virginia Norton Seal (1879-1957), written 1951

Handed down to her niece Ora Clyde Beasley Jones. Transcribed from Virginia’s original personal handwritten notes by Ora’s grandaughter, and great-grandaughter.

Page Two:

My mother’s family record: Gabriella Harrison Pruett Seal

Great grandparents: Hannah Southworth and Turner Chenault
Grandparents: Elijah Pruett and Elizabeth or Betty Harrison
Parents: William Harrison Pruett and Mary Catherine Chenault
Their children:
1. William Pruett Jr.
2. Gabriella Harrison Pruett
3. Mary Cathrine Pruett
4. Elijah Pruett
5. Caroline Pruett
6. Editha Pruett
7. Virginia Alice Pruett
8. Martha Ellen Pruett
9. Laura Ann Pruett
10. Sara Ella Pruett

Page Three:

Mother’s great grandparents: Col. William Henry Harrison -
Elizabeth Harrison Pruett
Captain Robert Harrison - brother

Daughters:
Virginia or Jennie Harrison
Elizabeth or Betty Harrison

A cousin or brother: Lucian Harrison

Children of Turner Chenault and Hannah Southworth:
Mary Cathrine Chenault
Mary Frances Chenault
Amanda Chenault
John Chenault
Jim Chenault
Willie Chenault

Page Four:

My mother’s wedding as I remember what she told me:
My mother was Gabriella Harrison Pruett - Father was Lawrence Battle Seal, both of Caroline Co>Co. Married on July 3, 1866 at her home on the lawn, around 6:00 p.m. by the Rev. Edgar Rowe.
Her gown was white with a long veil. Twelve bridesmaids and grooms - don’t remember but a
few of their names. There was a wedding supper and large attendance of friends and neighbors.

Page Five:

Births:
William Battle Seal Jan. 21, 1868
Mary Frances Seal June 15, 1870
Sarah Editha Seal Nov. 4, 1872
Timothy Walton Seal Apr. 19, 1874
Archie Bunyon Seal Mar. 11, 1876
Charle Rosser Seal Feb. 20, 1878
Virginia Norton Seal Sep. 6, 1879
Irene Mooresman Seal Aug. 29, 1881
Lawrence Garland Seal Jul. 8, 1883

Children of Lawrence Battle Seal and Gabriella Pruett Seal - all of Shiloh Church and Bagby
P.O., Caroline Co., VA. On “Pruett’s Estate,” just below the Shiloh Church - all the Pruett family
are resting there in the Shiloh Cemetery, except those members elsewhere.

Page Six:

Deaths of the Seal Family:

Father, Lawrence B. Seal Mar. 7, 1917
Mother, Gabriella Harrison Pruett Seal May 13, 1917

Children’s deaths:
William Battle Seal Aug. 15, 1944
Mary Seal Chenault Oct. 12, 1941
Timothy W. Seal Dec. 15, 1941
Archie B. Seal May 19, 1940
Charlie R. Seal May 18, 1946
Edith Seal Beasley Apr. 18, 1954
L. Garland Seal Jun. 25, 1951

Page Seven:

My father’s family as I remember: Lawrence Battle Seal

Grandfather: Benjamin Seal
His children: John Mann Seal
William or Billy Seal
Cary Seal of Tennessee
Martha Seal - married Forsythe
Mary Seal - married Madison

Old home in Caroline County known as “Seales”, near or adjoining Burnett’s farm.

Father: John Mann Seal - wife: Frances Chenault
His children: Lawrence B. Seal
Timothy W. Seal
John B. Seal
Betty O. Seal - married Durrett
Mary F. Seal - married Durrett
Georgianna Seal - married Durrett

Page Eight:

Marriages of Family

Lawrence B. Seal to Gabriella Harrison Pruett July 3, 1866
W. L. Chenault to Mary Frances Seal Mar. 23, 1892
John A. Beasley to Edith S. Seal May 10, 1892
Timothy W. Seal to Annie L. Durrett Dec 26, 1895
William B. Seal to Leah Schools Mar. 31, 1898
William B. Seal to Hannah Lumpkin Dec. 29, 1910
A. B. Seal to Alice L. Durrett Dec. 23, 1900
Charlie R. Seal to Irene M. Seal Dec. 9, 1902
L. Garland Seal to Edith F. Dyer Jan. 19, 1922

Page Nine:

Mother’s and father’s deaths:

March 7, 1917 Lawrence Battle Seal in the 71st year of his age. He was laid to rest in Shiloh
Cemetery at the church where he was a member. Good neighbor, good citizen, and Christian.

Gabriella Harrison Pruett Seal - passed away May 13, 1917 - she was sick only three weeks.
During this time she gave testimony of her Christian life. She was often in prayer and lead a
consecrated Christian life. Her daily prayer was that God would give us back to her, an undivided
family... laid away on March 10, 1917 at the church she loved so dearly among her loved ones
who had gone on before.